the united nations general assembly thursday voted to accept palestine as a nonmember observer state. president abbas sees the move as a key step toward palestinian independence. only nine countries opposed the vote, including the united states and israel. friday, date after the vote, israel announced construction plans for some 3,000 new homes in israeli settlements on the west bank and in east jerusalem as well. at today's israeli cabinet meeting, prime minister benjamin netanyahu said quote we will carry on building. i want to bring in former senate majority leader, george mitchell. senator mitchell, president clinton's special envoy to northern ireland and served as two years as president obama's special envoy to middle east peace. thank you for stopping by. israel's announcement of increased settlement construction, criticized kbi the white house as quote counterproductive. france, great britain and the eu also criticized. >> the location as opposed to the number. the announcement to build on the area that is known as e-1, designated in that way. is highly significant. because no